# The Erie Community Foundation

The Erie Community Foundation is an Endowment / Foundation based in Erie, United States.

## Overview

- **Organization type:** Endowment / Foundation
- **Headquarters:** Erie, United States
- **Region:** North America
- **Address:** 459 West 6th Street, Erie, PA 16507, United States
- **Founded:** 1935
- **Assets under management:** 329 (Altss estimate)
- **Website:** eriecommunityfoundation.org
- **LinkedIn:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/erie-community-foundation

## Regulatory record

- **Reports private funds:** No

## About

The Erie Community Foundation was established in 1935 by Elisha H. Mack. Karen Bilowith currently serves as President and CEO while Thomas A. Tupitza chairs the board. The structure includes six affiliate foundations that extend grantmaking into surrounding communities. Asset allocation includes a 15.81 percent position in private equity alongside public equities, fixed income, and real estate. Confirmed holdings comprise Accolade Partners Growth I, Arctaris Impact Fund, Hartman Innovation Fund, and Erie Downtown Equity Fund. Geographic reach centers on Erie, Pennsylvania, with additional exposure across the United States through pooled vehicles managed with Cambridge Associates. The foundation also maintains an art acquisition fund for the Erie Art Museum and interests in charitable remainder unit trusts. The organization employs 26 professionals at its headquarters. It maintains memberships in the Pennsylvania Association of Community Foundations and The Nonprofit Partnership. Recent activity includes sponsorship of the Erie Gives event in August 2025. Service providers include PNC Bank as custodian and Knox McLaughlin Gornall & Sennett as legal counsel. The foundation operates through a community foundation model that separates donor-advised funds and affinity vehicles such as the Erie Women's Fund and LGBT Fund from core endowment assets. This architecture allows targeted collective giving while preserving centralized investment oversight via external advisors.

## Sectors

- Philanthropy
- Community Development

## People

- Karen Bilowith — President and CEO
- Thomas A. Tupitza — Board Chair
- Elisha H. Mack — Founder

## Questions

### Who runs investment decisions at The Erie Community Foundation?

Karen Bilowith serves as President and CEO. External advisor Cambridge Associates manages the global equities and fixed income portfolios.

### Does The Erie Community Foundation participate in fund commitments or only direct deals?

The foundation holds limited partner positions in Accolade Partners Growth I and Arctaris Impact Fund while also owning direct interests such as the Hartman Innovation Fund.

### What asset classes does The Erie Community Foundation allocate to?

Allocations include private equity at 15.81 percent, public equities, fixed income securities, real estate, and alternative holdings such as art acquisition funds.

### How is The Erie Community Foundation related to its affiliate entities?

It oversees six regional affiliates including Corry Community Foundation, North East Community Foundation, and Findley Lake Community Foundation that conduct localized grantmaking.

### What investment stages does The Erie Community Foundation target through its holdings?

Holdings span venture and growth equity via Accolade Partners, impact strategies via Arctaris, and real estate development via the Erie Downtown Equity Fund.

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Last updated: 2026-06-03T20:00:00.000Z

Canonical page: https://altss.com/profile/the-erie-community-foundation

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